Disclaimer: This will all be in Max's POV unless it is otherwise stated at the top of the chapter.

Hey, it's me, Max.

My flock and I have just escaped the hands of the evil U-D and his henchman. We're on the run...again. Why doesn't that surprise me.

My flock is one interesting bunch. If you've read our books, you can probably skip through this. But if you haven't, listen up. Me, Fang, and Iggy are 14. Nudge is 11, but she looks almost older than me. Gazzy is 8 and his sister, Angel, is 6. We also have unique abilities.

I can fly at supersonic speeds, along with my super-light skeleton and enhanced hearing and eyesight. Fang can also fly at supersonic speeds when he wants to because of a blood transfusion I gave him. He can appear invisible when he wants to but other than that, he's just a really tough, unemotional, stoic bird kid. Iggy is the cook in our bunch, though how he does it with being blind and everything, I'll never know. Also, along with Gazzy, he is an explosives expert. They can turn anything, and I mean anything, into a highly effective bomb. It's scary sometimes. Nudge can detect someone's essence if she touches a piece of technology. The Gasman is also an explosive expert along with his poisonous digestive system. He's a stink bomb in human form, no joke. Angel is our most unique member. She can read minds, shape shift, and breathe underwater. She can also control minds and lately, she's been helpful with supper by convincing the fish to commit suicide. How wonderful. Sarcasm there, guys. It's actually really scary that she can do that at all and she's only 6!

Anyway, on the run again. We were headed northwest from Florida. We are going to my mom's place to rest up for awhile.

"Max, how much longer? I'm starving." Nudge complained again for, like, the hundredth time. Of course, she's always the first to start complaining.

"We're almost there, Nudge. A few more minutes and then we'll land. Okay? Remember, guys. Incognito until I give the all clear. Who knows if Ella and her mom have been replaced by look-a-likes." I said to everyone, hoping to reassure them, but failing miserably in the process. Fang glanced over and gave me a sympathetic look. He knew how hard it was living this kind of life.

True to my word, we landed a few minutes later. Everything was quiet, normal...or so I hoped. I motioned for the others to stay put while I went up to the door. I knocked and waited silently. A few minutes later, the door opened onto Ella's face. When Ella recognized me, she started grinning from ear to ear. She immediately reached out and hugged me. I hugged her back. It was so good to seer her again.

"Mom! It's Max!" Ella shouted back into the house. I saw my mom, Valencia Martinez, walk out of her office with a grin on her face that said all there was to be said. She was glad I was back. She walked over and gave me the biggest hug.

"Is your flock with you, too? Or are you alone?" She asked as she pulled away. She looked worried. The kind of worried only a mom could pull off.

I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, clearly gesturing to the bushes and trees at the edge of the yard. They were all hidden in various places so if this was a trap, they wouldn't get captured. I asked Angel silently in my head.

Angel, honey, is everything okay? Has anything changed in their minds?

Everything is the same, Max. They're just worried about us, kind of like every mom worries about her kids. It's kind of nice for once.

She replied in my head, her voice that of the sweet 6 year old she was. I absolutely loved my flock. I don't know what I would do without them.

I turned around on the steps and whistled loudly, letting everyone know that it was safe to come out. They all emerged one by one, looking very grungy and very exhausted. Fang was holding Angel's hand. Iggy set Total on the ground as soon as he emerged from the bushes and Akila stepped around Iggy gracefully.

We entered the house and settled down in various places all around the rather small living room.

"So what's happened since we last saw you all?" My mom asked curiously. She was a vet and she was my mom. She was always curious to know what we did, so was Ella.

We told her everything that had happened in the last few months, interrupting one another if something was forgotten. Then I had to call in a favor that I really needed.

"Mom, is it at all possible for us to leave Total and Akila here? We can't be hauling around 800 pounds of dog and Total doesn't want to be separated from Akila." I told her, glancing over at them snuggled up comfortably in a corner of the room, apparently asleep.

My mom also glanced over at them. She nodded, telling me that it would be okay for them to stay here and that they'd be safer hidden here than if they would be flying with us. Then, she got on the phone and order pizzas for us. We were absolutely famished.

Three hours and seven pizzas later, we were full and content. Fang and I were getting the kids ready for bed when Ella said it was okay for Angel to sleep with her in the bed. The Gasman and Nudge shared the couch. Iggy got the oh so comfortable recliner. Fang and I were content to curl up on the floor with as many spare pillows as my mom could find. With that, we all fell alseep, comfortable and safe after everything that's happened to us.

What am I saying? Nowhere was safe enough for us. So I guess I'll just say as safe as it could be for six bird kids on the run.

A/N: I hope everyone likes this! Please read and review! I'd very much appreciate it. I'll update soon.